Thursday, 4 October 2012

The man is nothing if not consistent in his dedication to Christmas music and his ambivalent relationship with the holiday. Every year Sufjan records some songs, classics and originals, and sends them to a select group of family and friends. Seldom do they leak!

This one covers the years 2007-2012 and contains 5 EPs and numerous goodies, following a similar format to 2006's Songs For Christmas

Friday, 14 September 2012

I rated their 2010 album Listen quite highly, even if it did contain numerous mis-steps in its 60 minute running time. Just give us your best songs with no messing about was my online advice to Emanuel and the gang. Either other people had told them the same thing or they take my comments very seriously (as of course everybody should). So here it is: The Janus Mirror, 8 songs and less than 40 minutes.

The band has shrunk from an unfeasible 11-piece to a more realistic 6-piece. Given the small stages they still find themselves playing this must be an improvement in safety too. Although the sound they make on this recording is as big as ever with strings striving to be heard with the framework of some well-recording searing guitar riffs, thumping bass patterns and snappy drumming.
Making a big noise is hardly a unique talent, but Emanuel Ayvas backs it up (once again) with some very solid tunes, lyrics and arranging as the sound veers between Jethro Tull, The Beatles, ELO and Broken Social Scene.
My Rating: 8/10
Baroque poppy? Just a little.

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Monday, 20 February 2012

Peter Broderick is a multi-instrumentalist, original hailing from Oregon but based in Berlin in recent years. This relocation seems to have every connection with fellow new Berliners, The Danish band Efterklang, with whom Peter regularly collaborates.

Pop music you can't dance to!

Who's to say what is meant by baroque pop? Well... me obviously! It's been a convenient peg for music critics to hang their musical descriptions on for almost 50 years. For me it means pop (how inadequate that word seems) that has a more serious approach particularly with the type of instrumentation used. Expect to read about violins, flutes, harps, trombones and much more.

Although I rate my musical taste highly, the same can't be said of my journalistic skills and aspirations, so quite often I'll point the reader to more articulate reviews than I could possibly make. Saves me time, and save you reading my half-baked efforts.